Journey Continues by Bus Following Rough Air Travel - Passengers disembark post turbulence: Journey continues via bus transportation
Here's the skinny on what went down:
A Ryanair plane, bound for Milan, made an emergency landing in Memmingen – all because of a whopper of a turbulence storm in the Allgäu region. The plane took off from Berlin, but the journey hit a turbulent turn around 20:25 when it encountered some serious air turbulence.
In the aftermath, seven passengers and one crew member sustained injuries, according to the cops. A two-year-old child got some bruises, a woman ended up with a head wound, and another passenger complained of a sore back. Dispatch reported initially nine injuries, but further analysis narrowed it down to the seven. In total, there were 179 passengers and 6 crew members on board, as per the police.
medi-cops to the rescue
Turns out, the plane was scheduled to land in Memmingen because of the turbulence. The pilot also made an emergency call for medical assistance. Most passengers jumped on a bus and continued their journey to Milan that very night. A replacement flight was arranged for the next morning, too. The Southern Bavarian Air Traffic Authority refused to permit another flight from the aircraft that night, according to the police.
Also, screw the lightning show outside! Thunderstorms boomed in many parts of Bavaria on Wednesday. The police and firefighters received around 200 calls for help. In and around thunderstorms, downdrafts can create turbulence due to opposing warm and cold air currents – that's why they are avoided whenever possible. The German Air Traffic Controller (BDL) advises passengers to stay buckled up during turbulence, even if the fasten seatbelt sign is off.
Now, let's look at some common reasons behind these airy acrobatics:
Turbulence - A Meteorological Roller Coaster
- Jet Streams: Fast-moving winds at high altitudes above 15,000 feet. When an aircraft intersects with these streams, it can experience some jolts[2][3].
- Mountain Waves: Strong winds over mountain ranges create waves that can cause turbulence, even miles away from the mountains[2][3].
- Thunderstorms and Stormy Weather: Thunderstorms create strong up- and downdrafts, which can cause rough turbulence, especially when severe[3][5].
- Wind Shear and Inverted Temperatures: Rapid changes in wind speed or direction (wind shear) or inverted temperatures (where temperatures increase with altitude) can trigger intense wind shears and turbulence[2][4].
- Mechanical Turbulence: Air turbulence caused by obstacles like buildings or mountains that disrupt smooth airflow[1][5].
Intense turbulence can be downright strong and sudden, potentially leading to loss of aircraft control or even structural damage[4].
- The community policy should include a provision for addressing emergency situations such as the turbulence experienced by the Ryanair plane bound for Milan.
- In addition to meteorological factors, employment policies for airline pilots must consider the risks of turbulence and provide training to ensure the safety of passengers during turbulent conditions.
- General news outlets, lifestyle magazines, and travel blogs might find it interesting to explore the increase in travel-related accidents, like car-accidents and air turbulence incidents, and how they impact public perception of travel safety.
